Firm Practice Overview
The Professional Governance Act requires Engineers and Geoscientists BC to regulate firms that engage in the practice of professional engineering or geoscience. Entities that engage in the practice of professional engineering or professional geoscience are required to apply for a Permit to Practice.
Registrant firms are required to have a representative attend training, and to have documented policies and procedures in place that indicate how they meet the ethics, quality management, and continuing education requirements within 12 months of registering in the form of a Professional Practice Management Plan.
Read more about this regulatory model in the About Firm Regulation page.
Timelines and Requirements
Below are the key steps and timeline for firms to apply for a Permit to Practice and meet the requirements of firm regulation.
Permit to Practice
A Permit to Practice grants firms the legal authority to engage in the practice of professional engineering or geoscience in BC. It enhances public protection by establishing standards of practice for all firms engaging in professional engineering and geoscience – standards enforced through regular compliance audits.
If the business activity of a firm does not require the practice of professional engineering or geoscience, then the firm may not need to be registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
If you are unsure whether your firm requires a Permit to Practice, please complete the Permit to Practice Applicability Review Form, and submit the form to [email protected].
Learn how to apply for a Permit to Practice.
Training
The Regulations of Firms Permit to Practice training provides guidance to Responsible Registrants and other individuals employed by or under contract with a registrant firm on the requirements for applying for and maintaining their firm’s Permit to Practice.
Access TrainingProfessional Practice Management Plan (PPMP)
Registrant firms are required to have a Professional Practice Management Plan (PPMP) in place documenting policies and procedures that indicate how they meet the ethics, quality management, and continuing education requirements.
- a code of conduct that identifies how the registrant firm will ensure compliance with Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Code of Ethics;
- policies and procedures meeting the quality management requirements in the bylaws;
- policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the continuing education requirements;
- the organizational structure of the registrant firm;
- the names of the registrant firm’s Responsible Officer and Responsible Registrant(s);
- the registrant firm’s area(s) of practice;
- the Responsible Registrant(s) designated to each area of practice at the registrant firm; and
- a policy regarding the use of the Permit to Practice Number by individuals employed by or under contract with the registrant firm.
A registrant firm’s PPMP must be in place within 12 months of registering for a Permit to Practice.
PPMP Templates
The Regulation of Firms Permit to Practice training covers the PPMP requirements in detail and assists firms in preparing their PPMP’s by providing standardized templates. Standardized templates are available for the following categories of firms:
- Engineering Sole Practitioner PPMP Template for an engineering professional registrant who practises on their own, either in an incorporated or unincorporated organization. They may have non-professionals on staff and up to two trainees and still qualify as a sole practitioner.
- Geoscience Sole Practitioner PPMP Template for a geoscience professional registrant who practises on their own, either in an incorporated or unincorporated organization. They may have non-professionals on staff and up to two trainees and still qualify as a sole practitioner.
- Multi-Professional Firm PPMP Template for small to medium size firms with two or more engineers and/or geoscientists on staff.
- Large Firm PPMP Template for large firms, public sector firms or firms with multiple divisions, business lines, or unique operating groups where the individual groups will have procedures unique to them. It is applicable to firms with engineers and/or geoscientists on staff.
Firms with existing policies and procedures that meet some or all of the PPMP requirements can simply reference the existing documents in their PPMP.
A firm’s PPMP will be reviewed by Engineers and Geoscientists BC auditors during the firm’s compliance audits.
Audit Program
Under the Permit to Practice requirements, registrant firms are required to undergo proactive mandatory compliance audits.
Please visit the Firm Audit Program page for more information.
Renewing your Permit to Practice
All registrant firms are required to update their information and pay an annual fee to renew their Permit to Practice every year.
A renewal link will be made available to Responsible Registrants between April 1 and May 31 when the renewal period opens.
Key dates for non-renewal:
| June 1 | A 15% late fee will be applied to the annual fee |
| July 1 | Firm will be prohibited from practice |
| September 1 | Permit to Practice is cancelled |
Resources and Bulletins
Bulletins are intended to address emergent or novel questions about firm regulation in a timely manner. Each bulletin provides Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s interpretation of how registrants and firms should approach the topic in question. The contents of bulletins will be incorporated into broader Regulation of Firms guidance documents as those documents are revised. Please see below for the most recent bulletins.
- Use of Title in Registrant Firms
- Employed by or under Contract with a Registrant Firm
- Permit to Practice Number Usage
- Non-Registrant Firms offering Engineering or Geoscience Services
- Permit to Practice and Business Structure
Contact [email protected] if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for.